CIGRE Energy Forum 2026 – AltaLink Brings Global Energy Leaders to Calgary, Alberta, Canada
AltaLink will host the 21st Annual CIGRE Energy Forum, an International Conference & Exhibition, this September, bringing together global energy leaders in Calgary to address one of the industry’s biggest challenges: meeting rapidly growing electricity demand while maintaining a safe and reliable grid.
The event will take place from September 21st to 24th at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre and marks the second time AltaLink has hosted the national forum.
Set in Canada’s energy capital, the forum will bring together business leaders, system operators, engineers, researchers, policy-makers, and academics to explore the future of power systems and share insights on emerging challenges and solutions.
A Forum focused on Meeting growing Electricity Consumption
Centered on the theme of grid modernization, the forum will focus on five key areas:
- Integrating large loads
- Grid-enhancing technologies
- Advanced storage
- Distribution management
Building a secure and resilient energy future
The program will highlight how the industry is responding to growing electricity demand through innovation, new technologies, and evolving approaches to grid planning and operations.
With more than 400 technical presentations proposed by international experts and support from 16 CIGRE committees, the forum will provide attendees with access to leading research and emerging industry trends.
This year’s CIGRE Canada event will also create meaningful dialogue across different fields of the utility industry through panel discussions that bring together industry leaders, technical experts, and emerging voices to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the electricity sector.
Complementing these discussions, the technical tours will provide participants with a unique opportunity to experience infrastructure and operations up close. These guided tours will offer a behind-the-scenes look at some of the facilities and new technologies powering Alberta’s grid.
Highlighting AltaLink’s Role in Grid Innovation
As the host utility, AltaLink will play a central role in shaping the forum experience and showcasing Alberta’s expertise in electricity transmission and grid innovation. As Alberta’s largest electricity transmission provider, AltaLink operates and maintains the majority of the province’s transmission network, along with the critical infrastructure that connects generation sources to communities and industries across Alberta.
With recent changes in Alberta’s electricity market, the CIGRE Energy Forum will highlight AltaLink’s role in supporting the province’s evolving energy landscape, where electrification is accelerating across sectors, including industrial development, data centres, transportation, and emerging technologies.
As electricity demand continues to grow, AltaLink is advancing its approach to transmission infrastructure and grid modernization to ensure the system can support new large loads, integrate renewable and distributed energy resources, and maintain reliability under increasingly complex operating conditions.
Register to take part
With a strong program in development, the forum is expected to be a key event for those involved in Canada’s electricity sector. Industry professionals, researchers, and partners are encouraged to register, participate, and contribute to the conversation.
Thumbnail credit: Condor Wei on Unsplash
Suggested content
